Captains shake it up for Ryder Cup foursomes

Reuters Staff

2 Min Read

European Ryder Cup player Rory McIlroy acknowledges the crowd as he stands with captain Paul McGinley (L) on the first tee for his fourballs 40th Ryder Cup match at Gleneagles in Scotland September 26, 2014Phil Noble

GLENEAGLES Scotland (Reuters) - Captains Paul McGinley and Tom Watson shook up their teams when announcing their pairings for Friday's foursomes meaning all 12 players from each side will see action on the opening day of the 40th Ryder Cup.

Europe skipper McGinley handed a first Ryder Cup appearance to Frenchman Victor Dubuisson who will partner former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell for a daunting match against Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley.

Mickelson and Bradley secured a thrilling victory on the 18th green over Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia in the last fourballs match to give the United States a 2 1/2 - 1 1/2 lead.

He surprisingly rested both newcomers Jordan Spieth and partner Patrick Reed who demolished Ian Poulter and Stephen Gallagher 5&4 in the morning.

Englishman Poulter, Europe's talisman and hero from Medinah two years ago when Europe retained the trophy, was rested.

Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson, who won the first point of the match for Europe with an easy win over off-form Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, will take on Hunter Mahan and Zach Johnson who took no part in the fourballs.

World number one McIlroy resumes in the afternoon with Garcia against Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker who scrambled a vital half point against Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer earlier in the day.